title: Vitamin D in asthma and future perspectives.
abstract: Humans have the ability to synthesize vitamin D during the action of ultraviolet (UV) radiation upon the skin. Apart from the regulation of calcium and phosphate metabolism, another critical role for vitamin D in immunity and respiratory health has been revealed, since vitamin D receptors have also been found in other body cells. The term "vitamin D insufficiency" has been used to describe low levels of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D that may be associated with a wide range of pulmonary diseases, including viral and bacterial respiratory infection, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and cancer. This review focuses on the controversial relationship between vitamin D and asthma. Also, it has been found that different gene polymorphisms of the vitamin D receptor have variable associations with asthma. Other studies investigated the vitamin D receptor signaling pathway in vitro or in experimental animal models and showed either a beneficial or a negative effect of vitamin D in asthma. Furthermore, a range of epidemiological studies has also suggested that vitamin D insufficiency is associated with low lung function. In the future, clinical trials in different asthmatic groups, such as infants, children of school age, and ethnic minorities are needed to establish the role of vitamin D supplementation to prevent and/or treat asthma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Diseases, Changhai Hospital/First Affiliated Hospital of the Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Haidong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Porpodis
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zarogoulidis
authors.forename: Kalliopi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Domvri
authors.forename: Paschalina
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Giouleka
authors.forename: Antonis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Papaiwannou
authors.forename: Stella
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Primikyri
authors.forename: Efi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mylonaki
authors.forename: Dionysis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Spyratos
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hohenforst-Schmidt
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kioumis
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zarogoulidis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002648:Child; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000150:complications
chemical_list: D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol; D014807:Vitamin D
keywords: anti-inflammation; asthma; immunomodulation; vitamin D